DVSA warns thousands of classic cars are unsafe for UK roads - 'Should act as a warning to all!'

In total, 7,831 classic cars failed the test with 3,018 found to have at least one "dangerous" defect.

Under UK law, classic cars, which are vehicles aged over 40 years, do not require an MOT test, but drivers are still required to ensure the vehicles are safe for the roads.

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With older vehicles failing the MOT, Clayton Classics has appealed to classic car owners to consider an optional MOT for their vehicle that can account for the specific features of their model.

Dean Allsop, director of Clayton Classics, said: “These MOT fail results for UK motorists are quite surprising and should act as a warning to all vehicle owners, no matter the age of the car, to consider the test.

“The good news is that classic car owners take a lot of care in their vehicles, and by taking a proactive approach to maintenance and checks, including an MOT, they can continue to enjoy their vehicle for years to come.”

The FOI also found that 48,848 historic vehicles underwent voluntary MOT tests last year, the largest number on record.

Between 2019 and 2021, it was revealed that one in five classic cars failed their MOTs. A total of 121,204 classic cars have undergone MOT tests with 20 per cent (25,000) of them being labelled not roadworthy.

Allsop added: “Classic cars should be used and enjoyed, so having a good network of trusted contacts who can offer appropriate testing, and advice really helps to get the best out of the vehicle.

“Keeping a classic car also comes with a level of responsibility, so an optional MOT that can be tailored to the features of the model is a sensible choice.”

At present, if a vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and has undergone no “substantial changes” in the last 30 years, then it does not need an MOT.

This includes vehicles previously exempted based on being first registered before 1960, while different rules apply to large vehicles. However, all vehicles must be roadworthy whether they are exempt or not.

There are currently 1.1 million vehicles with a historic vehicle class in the UK, of which 600,000 still have a licence to drive on roads.

Data from the DVSA also found that over the past three years, nearly one in four (23 per cent) vehicles failed an MOT, even after being given the option to rectify an issue at the initial testing.

In total, between October and December last year, roughly 684,746 vehicles failed their MOT test due to having at least one dangerous item in the car, with almost 8.4 million tests taking place.

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Katie Lomas, managing director of Green Flag, said: "It's important that people take regular steps to ensure that they are keeping their vehicles safe and legal”.

“Remember, if you think there might be a problem with your car, don’t wait for the MOT, take it to a professional to be checked right away.”